The short stories of John Updike were taken from some of his earlier works. There seems to be a regular theme of middle-age adults being bored with their likes and seeking something. Often an affair, a reminiscing of the past or perhaps being upset with the youth of the day. The only one that stuck for me was one about a swimming pool. A family put in a pool. They enjoyed it a lot at first. However, they seemed to use it less as their marriage fell apart. They both moved to separate places, yet kept the house and made sure the pool stayed in order. At first a few neighbor kids snuck in. Then out of obligation, the neighbors joined in. Eventually it became a large community meeting place. Alas, the husband noticed this when he came to visit the house. They eventually sold the house, with the new owners filling in the pool to keep the house safe from their children. The "bad" circumstances ended up being great for the community. However, the individual priorities end up kabashing the community good. It is an interesting take on community property.
Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom was the star of his high school basketball team. Now he is in a marriage he does not like. His pregnant wife finally pushes him over the edge with her vices. He decides to leave. However, he has trouble carrying it out. He is self conscious in his drive away. So, he goes to some place of comfort - his basketball coach's house. He ends up spending time with a woman of questionable character, but makes it back to see his wife and return the car. He continues to have some conflicts with his desires and the poor state of his life. A minister takes him under his wing to try to help. (The minister is very "human" with his own family squabbles.) Eventually, he returns home to his wife as the child is born. However, the child drowns in a tub and he is more concerned with his lack of guilt. Though he is an adult, Rabbit has trouble taking on responsibility with the vagaries of life. There are many people that want to help him. He is somewhat willing to accept the help, but still struggles with his own personal decisions.